Improvement in joints for seats and desks



JOHN PEARD.

Improvement in Joints for Seats and Desks. v I -No.123,928., Patented Feb. 20,1872..

UNITED STATES PATENT Grrron.

J OHN PEARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Yl

IMPROVEMENT IN JOINTS FOR SEATS AND DESKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,928, dated February 20, 1872.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN PEARD, of the city, county, and State of New York, he ve invented a new and useful Improvement in Joints for Folding Seats and Desks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which drawing Figure l is a side or end view of a seat to which my invention is applied, the joint being shown in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a side View taken when the seat has been folded up toward the back. Fig. 3 is a front view, the seat being thrown or folded up and one of the joints being in vertical section. Fig. 4 is a detached sectional view of my improved joint taken in the line a: a; of Fig. 3.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to folding desks and seats for schools, churches, and other places; and consists in an improved hinge-joint, composed of a metallic bracket containing the movable parts of the joint, and arranged with a central socket sunken in the inner face of its side flange, which receives the axis on which the joint turns. The said axis forms part of the side frame of the structure, and the bracket and side frame are connected to each other by a bolt, which goes through the center of the socketed part of the bracket, and through the center of the axis, and thence through the side frame to its inner side flange, which is socketed to contain a square nut which engages the end of the screw-bolt. The bracket is provided with a stop, which works between the shoulders formed on the side frame, the shoulders on the opposite sides of the stop being cushioned to prevent noise and injury in working thejoint. The joint is concealed from the observer on its sides and front, being inclosed on one side by a flange cast with the bracket, and on the other by a flange cast with the side frame; and the recess of the joint, in which the stop moves between the shoulder, is form ed on the rear, the shoulder which limits the downward movement of the hinge being over the axis, concealed from view, and overlapped by a curtain of the bracket in all positions of the joint.

The letter A designates the side frames, which support the structure. The side frame is made of metal, each frame being cast in one piece complete, the part on which the hinge is constructed being cast in proper shape to re ceive the bracket, which contains the movable part of the hinge. That part of the side frame which supports the hinge is arranged over the front foot of the frame, and is rounded on top concentrically with the axis of the hinge. The letter B designates the axis of the hinge, formin g a permanent portion of the side frame and projecting from its outer side, as is shown in the sectional part of Fig. 3 and in Fig. 4. The inner side of the frame is provided with a flange, 0, whose diameter or size is great enough to conceal the joint, and which also forms a permanent portion of the frame. The flange O is provided with a square socket, D, for the purpose of receiving the nut of the bolt or pin which holds the bracket and side frame to each other. The letter E designates a recess formed on the frame, behind the line of the axis, to form a chamber for the stop of the bracket to move in. This recess is closed in on the inner side by the stationary flange O of the side frame, and on the outer side by a flange on the bracket; and its ends consist of shoulders F F, which limit the extent of revolution of the hinge. In order to make a comparatively noiseless joint, and prevent injury from sudden shocks in folding and unfolding a seat or desk, I cushion the joint by means of India-rubber or other suitable cushion; and in this example I accomplish this object by casting or forming small recesses G in the faces of the said shoulders, and securing therein the ends of pieces of rubber H so that a portion will project above the face of the shoulder to receive the impact of the stop on the bracket. The cushions may be secured to the faces of the stop instead of to the shoulders. The letter I designates a folding-seat secured to a bracket, J. The bracket, like the side frame already described, is made of metal, cast in one piece, and ready to be connected to the side frame to complete the hinge on which the seat turns, as well as to support the seat. The bracket is made wide enough to cover the limb of the side frame on which the joint is formed; and its under side, at the rear, is formed with a recess, K, of sufficient size to work over the flange O and the adjacent part of the side frame, one side of said recess K being closed by a side flange, L, which is cast with the bracket and incloses the hinge on the outer side, as the flange U of the side frame incloses it on the inner side. The inner face of the flange L has a socket, M, which receives the axis or pin B of the hinge when the bracket is brought to the side frame, and in this position they are held together by means of a screwbolt or pin, N, which goes through the flange ot' the bracket from the outside, and through the center of the axis B, and through the frame and its flange 0 into the nut O. The socket M of the bracket contains astop, P, which has a double face, so as to operate against each of the fixed shoulders of the joint, as has been described and as shown in the drawing. The stop is of such a heightas to form a bearing for the bracket against the inner surface Q of the frame, and the joint is thereby steadied and supported.

It will be observed that the joint is not exposed to an observer standing in front when the seat is thrown up, as represented in Figs. 2 and 3, because the curtains of the brackets overlap the edge of the upper shoulder of the 1. A hinge-joint for seats and desks, com

posed of a bracket, J having a joint-socket, M, and astop, P, as described, in combination with a side frame having arecess, E, and two shoulders, F 1*, and asocket, l), for the nut 0 of the fastening-bolt, substantially as set forth.

2. The curtain S and cushions H H, in combination'with the devices of the first claim, all arranged substantially as set forth.

JOHN PEARD. W'itnesses:

1*). F. KASIENHUBER, U. WAHLERs. 

